The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1887-05-07
THE FIELD TELEGRAPH.
DANGERS TO WHICH OPERATORS
WERE EXPOSED DURING THEWAR.

WE'RE EXPOSED DURING THEWAR.
A Warning just in tho Nick Of Time.
Part Played by Planters Private
Wire Tapping tho Encmy's Wires.
Raiding.
Tho Union armies in tho west, in ndvanc-
ing, left behind them vast stretch of
country infested by guorrillas and exposed to
formidable raids by the cavalry of Wheeler
and Forrest.
The operators in Tennessee and Kentucky
were always i'll danger Of surprise and cap
ture. Although they were non-combatants,
tho Confederates would not consent to treat
them rs civilians Hence it happened that
over seven per cent. of tho operators i'll tho
service were carried Off at ono timo
or another to Libby prison or An
dersonville. Sometimes, however, tho
warning would como from tho next station
just in tho nick Of time. "Gucrrillas arc
coming" Sometimes the cutting of tho wires
would advise the man at tho key that some-
thing was wrong. In such cases the only
thing for the operator to do was to smash the
battery, discngago tho instrument, tako it
under his arm, jump out tho window and
start for tho woods.
In 1864, just about the timo of tho fall Of
Atlanta, Gen. Hood sent Wheeler with largo
body of cavalry into Tennessee to destroy tho
depots of supplies along the railroad from
Louisville to Nashville and Chattanooga. To
Mislend the Union forces it was given out
that tho expedition was bound for eastern
Kentucky. This was, in fact, tho course for
time; but once across tho border of Ten
nessec, Wheeler turmoil sharply to tho left
and headed for Murfrcesboro, where thero
was Union garrison. Two telegraph opera
tors, James Jones nnd James Palmer, stationed
Mt Jacksboro, took turns at the instrument.
and i'll the interval secuted tho country in
search of Wheeler. Palmer fell in with him.
and being in civilians dress passed himself of
for farmer. 1o WIS compelled to ride with
the cavalry for some hours and then allowed
to 90. Cantering slowly until out of sight of
the moving column, Palmer headed for tho
office at n brcakneck pacc "Jim," said he,
us soon ns he could 1ismount, II fell in with
Wheelcrs cavalry and managed to get clew.
They are not bound for kentucky at all, but
for Murfreesboro, Tenn. Gull up the operator
ut once"
"Cickl Click!" No answer.
Those fellows must have cut tho line on tho
other side of Winters Gap. Try tho Louis
vile circuit" This proved to DO all right,
and Wheeler found Gen. Rousseau waiting
anXiously for him ON his arrival, and his
forces-tlntnks to the hoys at Jacksboro-
were dispersed and driven into Alabama.
There was an instance on tho other side of
the same kind About 100 miles above
Nicksburg lived planter who was a noted
poker player. He had for his convenience
private tclegraphic line running down tho
bank of the river to the city below. Ono
night while lie was having little quiet game
with friend lie thought he heard n stcnm-
boat. Rushing to the door he was astoun,led
to see the river for miles and miles alivo with
gunbonts md transports. IIc rushed to
tho instrument at once: "Vicksburg! Wick
burg! for Gods sake get ready! Millions
of 'Ynnks' aro floating by my plantation. u
This was Shcrman's expedition from Mem
plis on the way to the fruitless assault upon
the Chickusaw bluffs near tho Yuzoo river.
The Union forces had hoped to surprise
tho garrison, but the planters iprivnto wire
had let tho cat out of the bag. When
the news arrived at Vicksburg most of tho
officers were at u party. In the midst Of
quadrillo came the growing undertone
of tho long roll from tho batteries ON tho
heights
Tho tapping Of the wires was rcsortcd to by
both sides during tho war. This was an OK
tremcly hazardous proceeding Any ono
caught in the act would, of course, be exc
cuted at onco as spy. Ellsworth, noted
operator attached to the command Of John
Morgan, was very expert at this business. Ho
always carried IL pocket instrument which he
could attach to the main line. BY the aid of
this he could DO put i'll circuit without OPEN
ing or breaking tho current. During ono of
Morgans raids tho operator ut Gallntin,
Tenn, was captured before he could giyo n
danger signal by wire. Ellsworth took his
place, and for several hours deceived tho
other Offices He reported tho track clear
from guerlilns, in order that trains might be
sent along, which would, of course, have been
captured. Fortunately an old operator, who
knew Eiswortll's touch well, happened to
talio his seat at the key board and Instantly
recognized him. Ellsworth was SO accom-
plisllcd M operator that ho was able to cut n
wire, place the two ends against his tongue,
md by the vibrations read all messages com
ing over the lines.
1t is said that when Hooker was preparing
to cross the Rappahnnnock on the cvo of
Charlottesville there was reason to srspect
that Gen. Lee was getting too much news
Investigation discovered n cablo resting upon
the bed Of the river, crossing it and connected
with an underground insulated wire on shore.
This was traced to n small house opposite
Fredericksburg. The operator ut tho Federal
end of tho line was discovered and arrested
and has not been seen since.
When Stoneman, Sheridan, Wilson, Rous-
scau and other cavalry leaders wcre raiding
in tho enemy's country it was tho custom to
cut down telegraph poles, chop them into
stove lengths, and twist the wires into Cor
dian knots. An operator named OItcilly, at
tachcd to Gen. Griersons; command during
the Mississippi raid. hit upon very simple
plan which rendered tho telegraph lines use
less and at the same tmo left them standing.
This puzzled the Confcderates for long time.
O'Rcllly now and then cut tho wires, inserted
between the ends non-conducting substance,
and then welded the ends together Appar.
emily the wires were as good as new, but they
couldn't be made to work.-Chicago Herald.